Triple premiership forward Cameron Mooney believes Essendon on Friday night made a “massive blue” not playing popular retiring great Dyson Heppell against Sydney, claiming he would’ve given Bombers players and fans a significant emotional lift.
The Bombers’ finals hopes were left in tatters on Friday night after the Swans claimed a 39-point victory off the back of a stirring second-half surge.
Essendon opted not to select Heppell – who three days earlier had announced the 2024 season would be his last in the AFL – for the clash against the Swans, which was the Bombers’ final home and away game at Marvel Stadium for the year. Instead, Heppell embraced fans on the boundary line near the players’ race and acknowledged the crowd in a pre-game tribute.
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Coach Brad Scott said Heppell would “potentially” be picked for a final game against Brisbane at the Gabba next week.
Asked post-game to explain the non-selection of Heppell, Scott told reporters: “We’ve had discussions for four to six weeks, he is as strong as I am on this. We were still in contention and we pick our best team and that’s what we did and that’s what everyone would expect us to do.”
Speaking on Fox Footy Live on Friday night, Mooney said he understood the Bombers’ reasoning, but suggested they underestimated the positive and emotional energy Heppell would’ve provided.
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“Why wouldn’t you have played him? It was just there for you to play him,” Mooney told Fox Footy on Friday night.
“This is why you play him: He would’ve inspired his teammates – his teammates absolutely love and adore him – you could’ve played him as a sub at worst. I’m having a look at some of the players who played instead – (Jye) Menzie, (Harry) Jones, (Jake) Kelly, a couple of kids – this guy would’ve been a hell of a lot better tonight.
“I know the story of ‘we’re trying to play finals, so we don’t want to look like we’re not trying to win by giving this guy a celebration game’. Look at it the other way. The crowd are all over him and love him, so when he ran onto the field, they could’ve gone berserk and upped the ante for everybody, his teammates would’ve gone above and beyond for this man.
“This is a captain who led your club through the sh*t you guys had to go through, he did it all for you, he was the face of that club. I think you just made a massive blue by not playing him tonight. I’m not sure it would’ve got you over the line, but it would’ve been something for his teammates to go ‘alright, this is for Dys.’
“I get the other side of it as well, but this was an opportunity when you’re trying to play finals and you need something because you’re playing uninspiring footy the last couple of weeks – bring this guy on. They’ve had the week from hell in the media, he’s gotten up and spoken in front of his teammates and was very emotional … I just think they missed an opportunity.”
Five-time premiership Hawk Dermott Brereton agreed with Mooney’s reasoning.
“After the week they’ve had, talkback radio in Melbourne was about ‘how bad our club was, how bad we’ve been doing and how long we’ve been doing it wrong’. In my mind, I’m picturing (Heppell) running on and seeing 30,000 Essendon supporters lift. What would that do to the players on the ground?” Brereton asked on Fox Footy Live.
“It’s fair to say his replacement tonight was young (Sam) Weideman – and after half-time, he got beaten in one-on-ones almost routinely.”
Triple premiership Lion Jonathan Brown also questioned Essendon’s decision.
“Is there any sentiment left in footy?” Brown asked on Fox Footy post-match.
“Was he so much further behind Jake Kelly?
“It makes it sound like if Dyson Heppell plays, they get their arses kicked. He’s played most of the year and played some good footy.
“I’m a believer in the positive impact that can have in a group … You saw the emotion around it, how much he meant to that club during the week.”
But the Heppell non-selection had support from five-time All-Australian Garry Lyon.
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“No, I’m 100 per cent I would not play Dyson today – as harsh as (that is),” Lyon told Fox Footy.
“Don’t worry about hindsight, he wasn’t in their best 23 … If he’s not in their best 23, he doesn’t play – while their finals hopes are alive, in my mind.”
Only 33,830 fans arrived at a “fully ticketed” Marvel Stadium clash despite the Bombers’ finals hopes remaining alive.
Sunday’s clashes featuring Hawthorn, Carlton and Western Bulldogs to determine whether next week’s Brisbane game is a dead-rubber.
— with NCA NewsWire
Source Agencies
